Football coach begins stadium fundraising

Walk of fame and triathalon to be part of the effort, Kimberly Montalbano MILFORD — Amid the financial frustrations of a state budget impasse, Delaware Valley High School’s Head Football Coach Keith Olsommer recently announced a $1 million fundraising plan for improvements to Warrior stadium. “Part of the reason I’m fundraising is because of these tough economic times,” Olsommer said. “I believe our program is ready for the next step.” The plan involves renovations including a new set of bleachers and a scoreboard, adjoining baseball field, as well as general improvements to the stadium’s entrance. “We’re hoping that with the many people that graduated from the school, we can use technology to reach out to alumni and the community,” Olsommer stated. In order to generate money for the project, coach Olsommer plans to sell bricks to construct a “walk of fame,” showcasing each athlete’s name, year graduated and sport played. In addition, the coach will solicit the help of local businesses, further engaging the community, and hopes to stage a triathlon along with several other fundraising events. Olsommer has done research in the past for a new scoreboard, which he estimates will cost at least $100,000. New bleachers, a controversial board of education cost issue in past, are expected to cost roughly $500,000. “One thing that’s tough with the stadium is that there are minimal seats. I’m hoping to solve that problem,” Olsommer said. “I hope this will make the school a magnet for the community — they can come see how it looks and watch a football, field hockey or lacrosse game in comfort.” As the progress of the project is in its earliest stages, Olsommer has begun sit-downs with architects to look over possible designs for the improved stadium. The head football coach feels his plan will be generally supported. His fundraising would lift the costs from district taxpayers and quiet repeated school board debates of recent years over stadium improvements. “The school board gave me a lot of ideas, and having their support means an awful lot. I feel like there was a very positive reaction [to the plan].” Olsommer also anticipates opposition. “I know some people won’t support it because they aren’t really concerned with extra curricular activities as well as the fact that they will believe it’s not a wise financial decision at this time,” he said. Other nuts and bolts of project fundraising — a Web site, e-mailing, fundraising events, are still in planning stages. However, Olsommer hopes to complete the fundraising and see the stadium renovations finished within six to eight years. Given the financial issues Delaware Valley and many other districts are facing, he understands that could stretch to 10 years. Olsommer further assented that his goal “is to give kids at Delaware Valley who play sports an excellent stadium to play in, and to give the community further pride in their sports teams.”